. >> dan rueters is live in london. what do we know about the group taking responsibility? >> reporter: well, that had are sort of a splinter group, an affiliate of al qaeda in the islamic magnificent rred. led by mokhtar belmokhtar. he fought in the '80s against the soviets. he has been involved in people trafficking, drugs, and he has done a lot of kidnapping as well. most motivated by ransom and money. this may end up getting resolved. a notorious character, and described by french intelligence as mr. untouchable. known locally for being involved in cigarette smuggling. this is part of a wider, regional conflict, links to mali, that these islam iist groups in algeria are getting in on. furious that algeria has allowed french planes to fliory algerian air space to attack insurients, islamists in northern mali. >> what about plans or missions to get hostages out? >> well, we know from the ministry of information in algeria, that they are surrounded. the terrorists, and that a large number of security forces have gone to the gas plant. they were conflicting reports of the a